I Am So Blessed.

This is a bio I wrote for a leadership development program I'm in--maybe too formal for myspace, but I'll let you be be judge of that! I only modified it slightly to account for my recent career change. Blessings. :)
Alysia Louise Minor was born April 10, 1981 in Huntington Beach, CA. Homeless and under age, Minor’s mother found it difficult to care for her, and as a result of the selflessness of both her biological and adopted mothers, she came to live in Cuero, Texas with Paula Minor in 1982. After the death of her grandparents in 1990, Paula and her daughter, Alysia moved to Houston in search of new opportunities.
Minor attended Alief public schools, and graduated from Hastings High School in 1999. In 2004 Minor earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Houston, with a minor in History and African-American Studies.
While in college, she participated in a variety of service organizations. Minor worked for the Metropolitan Volunteer Program as office and community coordinator. Her leadership experience included co-organizing the First Annual Sports Buddies program for young boys in one of Houston’ s public housing communities. She went on to coordinate the program for 2 additional years. She also served Director of the Disability Accessibility Executive Task Force. University committee involvement included 2 years of service on both the Student Publications Committee and the Student Fee Advisory Committee. She was elected Senator-at-Large and served as Director of Public Relations for the UH Student Government Association during the 38th administration.
Also while in college, Minor was a charter member of Sankofa Pan-Afrikan Student Organization, which was integral in supporting the growth of the University of Houston’s African American Studies Program, and in the summer of 2002 studied abroad in The Gambia, West Africa. Her current affiliations include Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., St. John’s Downtown Children’s Church volunteer, and the Harris County Young Democrats. In 2001, she was awarded the Debbie O. Haney Outstanding Community Service Scholarship Award and is included in the 2003 Who’s Who Among American College Students. She was the also recipient of the Alief Future Educators Scholarship Award.
In February 2005 she, along with 3 others, founded B L A C K D E M S, what is now Harris County’s largest African-American political accountability and endorsing organization. The organization operates a non-partisan political action committee, Community Partnership for the American Dream, whose mission is to “bring the American dream within reach for all who seek it.” She currently serves as Vice Chairwoman and Director of Public Relations for the group.
Minor, who is an envisioned painter, describes herself as an artist-activist. It was this desire to use art to effect change that birthed the idea of “Art for Life’s Sake” a silent art auction which raised money and awareness HIV and AIDS prevention in July 2005. Until recently, Minor worked full-time at Families Under Urban and Social Attack, Inc., a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization based in Houston’s Third Ward community. There, she provides counseling, case management, and recruitment for a program which provides mentors to children of incarcerated parents. There She also taught abstinence education classes at CEP, Milby and Sam Houston High Schools.
Motivated by her own experience as an adoptee, Minor relays her personal testimony to Houston-area churches in presentations on behalf of One Church, One Child. These speaches are designed to encourage Christian families to adopt African American and Latino children who currently live in foster care.
Minor has been a practicing freelance photographer and graphic designer since October 2000, and recently ventured into full-time entreprenuership through her company, Greater Houston Media Group Public Relations & Graphic Design.
She enjoys kick boxing and weight training.
Last but defiantly not least, she is the proud mother of a 8-year-old daughter, Arion, and active participant in S.H.A.P.E. Community Center’s Parent Circle.